Dark Skies Cumbria

Saving Our Night Skies

Cumbria's dark skies allow us to see the natural wonder of the stars, but are also critical for the health wildlife and our own natural well-being. Sadly light pollution in Cumbria is increasing each year, threatening to obscure our view of the stars and blinding and confusing animals so they can’t feed or find a mate. We need urgent action now to stop light pollution. Stargazers, photographers, wildlife lovers and local communities… please help.

Or you can give by text to 70085. Just message DARKSKIES along with your chosen donation amount (eg DARKSKIES 5 to donate £5). Standard message rates apply.

The Lake District and Cumbria offers some of the most spectacular and precious skyscapes in England and we want you to join us on an interstellar adventure. Download our Dark Sky Discovery Pack and get started today!

A Cat’s Guide to the Night Sky

Author: Stuart Atkinson, Illustrator: Brendan Kearney

Kendal-based stargazer and educator, Stuart Atkinson, has written an entertaining introduction to astronomy for children aged 7-11 years. It’s the kind of book that can be dipped into for reference, or digested in chapters for dark sky basics such as what is a star, what is a planet (and how to tell them apart in the sky) or the best constellations on show according to the season. It also includes updated information such as the number of satellites currently orbiting the earth (Answer: more than 2,000) and the recent mind-boggling discovery that there are an estimated 100 billion galaxies in addition to our own Milky Way.

For adults who may have missed out on significant parts of a basic education in astronomy, this would be a great book to read aloud with the younger end of the age range. With the help of Felicity the Cat’s narration and Brendan Kearney’s appealing illustrations, concepts are explained simply in order to playfully guide aspiring young astronomers through the wonders of the night sky.

Other highlights include facts about the moon, its formation and phases, what causes the Northern Lights and a brief tour of our planetary solar system.

Reviewed by: Johanna Korndorfer

Publisher: Laurence King Publishing ISBN: 978-1786270726

Available at https://www.laurenceking.com/product/a-cats-guide-to-the-night-sky/

Hardback £14.99

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